Nepal rescuers blast hillside in search of hydropower workers trapped in tunnels

According to the Saudi Gazette, rescue operations in Nepal have intensified as teams work to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in tunnel networks following catastrophic flash flooding. The disaster, which has impacted multiple hydropower projects along the Trishuli River, has left families and officials racing against a closing window of opportunity to find survivors buried under mud and debris.

Reports indicate that rescuers are utilizing explosives to clear paths through the hillside, while simultaneously pumping air into the affected Trishuli-3A site. A private-sector association representing power companies has estimated that at least 900 workers remain unaccounted for across 12 different hydropower projects in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. While official figures continue to evolve, Prime Minister Balendra Shah confirmed that 279 individuals have been successfully rescued from these sites since the flooding began.

The broader humanitarian crisis, which spans the border into China, has seen the combined death toll rise toward 1,000, with thousands more reported missing. Heavy rainfall has complicated relief efforts, turning roads into impassable mud and trapping emergency vehicles attempting to reach the most isolated areas. International aid and local rescue teams remain focused on the hydropower tunnels, which are considered a priority due to the high concentration of workers trapped within the structures.